Silent Valley Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Silent Valley Reservoir is a reservoir located in the Mourne Mountains near Kilkeel
, County Down
in Northern Ireland
. It supplies most of the water for County Down, surrounding counties and most of Belfast
. It is owned and maintained by Northern Ireland Water Limited (formerly DRD Water Service
). The reservoir was built between 1923 and 1933 by a workforce of over one thousand men, nine of whom died.
rapid growth, there was a fast growing demand for more and more water. The two existing upload water catchments were becoming increasingly insufficient. Local civil engineer, Luke Livingstone McCassey was appointed the task of finding a source of water large enough to sustain Belfast. Five potential sites were surveyed in County Down
, and County Antrim
. McCassey ultimately decided on the Mournes in Down. The reason the Mournes proved so popular with McCassey was the cleanliness of the water and the high amount of rainfall – both paramount factors in water sources. Upon deciding on the site, water commissioners agreed on building a 9000 acres (36.4 km²) catchment area. This area is surrounded by the Mourne Wall
, built entirely by hand, taking eighteen years to complete. At the time the catchment was capable of providing some 30 million impgals (136,382.7 m³) of water per day, but this was too much. A scheme was developed and divided into 3 stages:
almost two and a half miles long underneath Slieve Binnian
. The tunnel
was built to carry water from the Annalong
valley to the Silent Valley Dam, which had been completed in 1933, 14 years earlier. This was to further supply the growing demands of Belfast
's water supply. Two work squads began at each end of the tunnel, and met half way almost 800 metres under the mountain. The technology in the day was lacking in every standard, and was led by candlelight. When the two squads met, they were mere inches off. The tunnel measures 8 feet (2.4 m) square – and 2.25 miles (3.6 km) long. Its entry is at Dunnywater and its exit is on the roadside, a short distance from the visitor's centre. The Binnian Tunnel was officially opened on Thursday, 28 August, 1952.
Kilkeel
Kilkeel is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the main fishing port on the Down coast, and its harbour houses one of the largest fishing fleets in Ireland. It had a population of 6,338 people according to the 2001 Census...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It supplies most of the water for County Down, surrounding counties and most of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. It is owned and maintained by Northern Ireland Water Limited (formerly DRD Water Service
DRD Water Service
Northern Ireland Water Limited is a water company in Northern Ireland. Formerly an executive agency within Northern Ireland's Department for Regional Development, it became a government-owned company on 1 April 2007...
). The reservoir was built between 1923 and 1933 by a workforce of over one thousand men, nine of whom died.
History
With Belfast'sBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
rapid growth, there was a fast growing demand for more and more water. The two existing upload water catchments were becoming increasingly insufficient. Local civil engineer, Luke Livingstone McCassey was appointed the task of finding a source of water large enough to sustain Belfast. Five potential sites were surveyed in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, and County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. McCassey ultimately decided on the Mournes in Down. The reason the Mournes proved so popular with McCassey was the cleanliness of the water and the high amount of rainfall – both paramount factors in water sources. Upon deciding on the site, water commissioners agreed on building a 9000 acres (36.4 km²) catchment area. This area is surrounded by the Mourne Wall
Mourne Wall
The Mourne Wall is a wall that was constructed to enclose a reservoir's catchment area in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland. It was built between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners to enclose the water catchment in the Mournes....
, built entirely by hand, taking eighteen years to complete. At the time the catchment was capable of providing some 30 million impgals (136,382.7 m³) of water per day, but this was too much. A scheme was developed and divided into 3 stages:
- The first stage was to divert water from the Kilkeel and Annalong river through pipes to a reservoir near CarryduffCarryduffCarryduff is a small town and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, about south of Belfast city centre. It had a population of 6,595 people in the 2001 Census....
. These water pipes were capable of supplying 10 million impgals (45,460.9 m³) of water per day. - The second stage was to build a storage reservoir across the Kilkeel River, after new pipes laid there were able to supply another 10 million impgals (45,460.9 m³) of water per day.
- The third stage was building another storage reservoir in AnnalongAnnalongAnnalong is a seaside village in County Down, Northern Ireland at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. It had a population of 1,778 people at the 2001 Census and lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. The village was once engaged in exporting dressed granite and is now a fishing and...
to impound the Annalong River.
The Binnian Tunnel
Between 1947 and 1951 over 150 men drove a tunnelTunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
almost two and a half miles long underneath Slieve Binnian
Slieve Binnian
Slieve Binnian is the third highest mountain in Northern Ireland at . The name comes from the rocky tors situated around the top of the mountain. These very rugged crest of rocky tors makes it easy to identify in views around the Mourne Mountains....
. The tunnel
Binnian Tunnel
The Binnian Tunnel was constructed between 1948 and 1952 and is located in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. The main purpose of the tunnel is to divert water from the Annalong river to the Silent Valley Reservoir underneath a number of mountains including Slieve Binnian, which the tunnel...
was built to carry water from the Annalong
Annalong
Annalong is a seaside village in County Down, Northern Ireland at the foot of the Mourne Mountains. It had a population of 1,778 people at the 2001 Census and lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. The village was once engaged in exporting dressed granite and is now a fishing and...
valley to the Silent Valley Dam, which had been completed in 1933, 14 years earlier. This was to further supply the growing demands of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
's water supply. Two work squads began at each end of the tunnel, and met half way almost 800 metres under the mountain. The technology in the day was lacking in every standard, and was led by candlelight. When the two squads met, they were mere inches off. The tunnel measures 8 feet (2.4 m) square – and 2.25 miles (3.6 km) long. Its entry is at Dunnywater and its exit is on the roadside, a short distance from the visitor's centre. The Binnian Tunnel was officially opened on Thursday, 28 August, 1952.